Title: Screening of characterisation technologies for complex rough surfaces

Authors: K.C. Ang, R.J.K. Wood, L. Wang

Addresses: National Centre for Advanced Tribology at Southampton (nCATS), University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK. ' National Centre for Advanced Tribology at Southampton (nCATS), University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK. ' National Centre for Advanced Tribology at Southampton (nCATS), University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK

Abstract: This paper screens the available technologies for complex rough surface (CRS) characterisations. The surfaces, produced by Electron Beam direct writing method, are extraordinarily rough, irregular and consist of closely-packed repeated features of sizes between 50 µm and 10 mm in the x, y and z directions. The technologies evaluated include light based optical systems, X-rays tomography, non-optical stereo microscopy and infrared thermography. Qualitative and quantitative individual and feature array descriptions are used to evaluate each technology. Parameters such as vertical measuring range, spatial and vertical resolutions and angular tolerance of measurement systems, are discussed for determining optimum conditions for CRS assessment.

Keywords: surface characterisation; complex rough surfaces; optical systems; X-ray tomography; stereo microscopy; infrared thermography; surface roughness.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSURFSE.2009.027417

International Journal of Surface Science and Engineering, 2009 Vol.3 No.4, pp.286 - 309

Published online: 22 Jul 2009 *

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